The original Yorùbá term for wife is Aya, yet Ìyàwó has become more prevalent in contemporary usage. The Ifá philosophical principle of OGBÈ ÒGÚNDÁ, widely recognized as OGBÈ-YÓNÚ, elucidates this concept through the following adage:

The OGBÈ ÒGÚNDÁ eulogy and its English interpretation:

Inú bìbì kò da n kan fún ni (Fury bears no fruitful offering)
Sùúrù òhun ni baba ìwà (Patience stands as the paramount virtue)
Àgbà tóní sùúrù (A man imbued with patience)
Oun gbogbo lóní (Is endowed with an abundance of blessings)
Adífá fún Òrúnmìlà (The divination cast for Òrúnmìlà)
Baba ń lo re fé ìyà (His destiny bound him to the trials of suffering)
Tí ńse omo Olú ìwó (The first princess of the Ìwó sovereign)
Ùnjé ìyàkan ìyàkàn (Would he face relentless tribulations?)
Tí Òrúnmìlà je ní ìwó ló d'āyā (Òrúnmìlà's trials in Ìwó culminated in a union)
Ìyàkan ìyàkàn lówá di ÌYÀWÓ (Thus, adversity evolved into WIFE)

Wùrà, amidst the pursuit of a worthy companion, embarked on an intricate quest to discern the most commendable suitor for herself. As the firstborn and the inaugural princess of the sovereign of Ìwó, a Yorùbá realm, her discernment was of paramount importance. A myriad of male òrìsà(divine entities), such as Ògún and Sàngó, ventured to Ìwó, each hopeful to secure Wúrà's hand in matrimony. Nevertheless, Wúrà was endowed with an unyielding and tempestuous spirit, and her suitors were met with trials designed to test their mettle. The other aspirants could not withstand the crucible of her temperament, and they relinquished their pursuit prematurely.

When the opportunity presented itself to Òrúnmìlà, he implored Olódùmarè (the Almighty) for enlightenment via Ifá. The divine wisdom imparted to him revealed the importance of maintaining composure amidst the adversities that Wura might impose upon him, emphasizing the virtues of patience and resilience. He was cautioned to anticipate provocation and humiliation from Wúrà, yet exhorted to remain steadfast and composed.

Upon Òrúnmìlà's arrival in Ìwó, Wúrà regarded him with a disparaging countenance. She refrained from extending the customary welcome, opting instead to deride him with a barrage of insulting epithets. In an utter disregard for the traditions of hospitality, she refused to provide Òrúnmìlà with nourishment or entertainment for a period spanning from his first day to nearly a week. Òrúnmìlà, adhering to the divine guidance he received, bore her slights with remarkable equanimity. In an act of calculated provocation, Wúrà seized Òrúnmìlà's Opón Ifá (divination board) and desecrated it, employing it as fuel for a cooking fire; she even absconded with his sacred Apò Ominijekun (pouch). This sacrilege greatly incensed Òrúnmìlà, yet he remained composed and refrained from retaliation, mindful of the counsel imparted to him.

Over time, the sovereign Olúwo observed Òrúnmìlà's humility and imperturbable demeanour, and he was struck by the resilience displayed in the face of relentless humiliation. Recognizing that Òrúnmìlà possessed the strength of character necessary to care for his beloved daughter, the sovereign orchestrated their union, granting Wura to Òrúnmìlà as his wife. In a gesture of munificence, the sovereign further divided his realm in twain, bestowing half of his dominion upon Òrúnmìlà.